asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that CIE workers, who are being rendered redundant as a result of the closing of branch lines, are being offered employment at venues long distances from their homes; and if, in view of the fact that this means that some men are unable to take up this employment because of their family commitments, he will consider giving redundancy pay to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Workers: Redundancy Pay.
19.
I am informed by CIE that railways employees are, in accordance with their conditions of service, subject to transfer throughout the system. An employee who becomes available for transfer because of the closing of a branch line and for whom a vacancy exists elsewhere is not redundant and does not qualify for redundancy compensation under the Transport Acts.
Where transfer involves a worsening of his conditions of employment he is entitled to lump sum compensation.
Will the Minister not agree that if a person employed as a linesman between Navan and Kells, who has his family living there, is offered a job in Skibbereen or Letter-kenny it is a worsening of his conditions? In those circumstances, will he consider giving redundancy pay?
For a very long period before the operation of the Transport Act it has always been a condition of service of CIE rail employees that they may be obliged to transfer from one area to another. If any CIE employee feels his conditions have been worsened he can appeal to the arbitrator who has been appointed for that purpose. Complaints of that kind are generally considered by the trade union concerned and CIE management. That is the way it has proceeded. On the whole, I would say it has worked satisfactorily.
Would the Minister not consider it an embarrassment to himself to mention trade union negotiations in this House in view of his record in regard to such things?
I do not know what the Deputy refers to.
I should not be surprised about that, either.
I have no function in the matter of the relationship between the management and staff. I think I ought to deny specifically what the Deputy says.
The Minister never met the unions. He got the Minister for Industry and Commerce to meet them.